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SUMMARY OF SIGNFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Goodwill impairment and write-off associated with sale of business $ 0dgx_GoodwillImpairmentAndWriteOffAssociatedWithSaleOfBusiness $ 37dgx_GoodwillImpairmentAndWriteOffAssociatedWithSaleOfBusiness  
Equity method investments carrying value 46us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments 45us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments  
Share of equity earnings from investments in affiliates 26us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 24us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 26us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Percentage of total revenues generated by medicaid and medicare programs 17.00%dgx_RevenuesGeneratedByMedicaidAndMedicarePrograms 18.00%dgx_RevenuesGeneratedByMedicaidAndMedicarePrograms 19.00%dgx_RevenuesGeneratedByMedicaidAndMedicarePrograms
Percentage of total revenues generated under capitated agreements 3.00%dgx_PercentageOfTotalRevenuesGeneratedUnderCapitatedAgreements 3.00%dgx_PercentageOfTotalRevenuesGeneratedUnderCapitatedAgreements 3.00%dgx_PercentageOfTotalRevenuesGeneratedUnderCapitatedAgreements
Purchase price discount ESPP 15.00%dgx_PurchasePriceDiscountEspp    
Percentage of accounts receivable due from government payers 14.00%dgx_PercentageOfAccountsReceivableDueFromGovernmentPayers 13.00%dgx_PercentageOfAccountsReceivableDueFromGovernmentPayers  
Percentage of receivables due from patients 17.00%dgx_PercentageofReceivablesDueFromSelfPayerPatients 18.00%dgx_PercentageofReceivablesDueFromSelfPayerPatients  
Available-for-sale equity securities 9us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecuritiesNoncurrent 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecuritiesNoncurrent  
Trading equity securities 49us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity 50us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity  
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies 30us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueFairValueDisclosure 29us-gaap_CashSurrenderValueFairValueDisclosure  
Other investments 8us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments 13us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments  
Total 96us-gaap_Investments 92us-gaap_Investments  
Gross unrealized gains from available-for-sale equity securities 2dgx_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainLossAccumulatedInvestments    
Trading equity securities gain or (loss) 3us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss 7us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss 5us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss
Changes in cash surrender value of life insurance policies $ 1dgx_Changesincashsurrendervalueoflifeinsurancepolicies $ 3dgx_Changesincashsurrendervalueoflifeinsurancepolicies $ 2dgx_Changesincashsurrendervalueoflifeinsurancepolicies
Minimum [Member]      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Equity method investment, ownership percentage 20.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life 5 years    
Maximum [Member]      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Equity method investment, ownership percentage 49.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life 20 years    
Building and Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, useful life 31 years 6 months    
Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, useful life 3 years    
Laboratory Equipment and Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, useful life 7 years    
Internal Use Software [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, useful life 3 years    
Internal Use Software [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Property, plant and equipment, useful life 5 years